Taking their findings, the experts developed a prototype that can slow the spread of breast cancer by blocking the LOX protein.

This prototype will now be used to develop a medicine that could be tested on patients in clinical trials.

What the experts say

Experts from the Institute of Cancer Research and Cancer Research UK worked on the research.

A spokesperson from Cancer Research UK hailed the discovery as "exciting".

Dr Justine Alford, from Cancer Research UK said: "This research in mice is exciting because it not only reveals new details of how breast cancer grows and spreads, but it could lead to a completely new way to stop these processes in patients if proven in people.

"This could help improve outcomes for patients, since cancer that has spread is harder to treat."